Northern Ireland Departments: Language Policy

Lord Laird: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	When communications from the Northern Ireland Department of Health, Social Services and Public Safety will be issued on headed paper using either three languages (English, Ulster Scots and Irish) or only English.

Baroness Amos: In the absence of a restoration of the devolved institutions, the Government have no plans to change their present approach to the use of language on letterheads for the departments of the Northern Ireland Administration, including that for the Department of Health, Social Services and Public Safety.

North/South Implementation Bodies

Lord Laird: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	What progress has been made since 1 January 2004 in the provision of pensions for civil servants working in the area of Cross-Border Implementation Bodies.

Baroness Amos: The draft rules of the north/south pension scheme have been cleared with all key stakeholders. Work continues on the appointment of a scheme administrator and on the drafting of legislation on the jurisdiction of each pensions ombudsman, and on transferring out provisions.

UK Legislation

Lord Stoddart of Swindon: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	What percentage of primary legislation arose from, or was significantly influenced by, European Union decisions in each of the past five years; and
	What percentage of secondary legislation, excluding regulations, arose from, or was significantly influenced by, European Union decisions in each of the past five years.

Baroness Amos: This information is not held centrally and could be obtained only at disproportionate cost.

United States Supreme Court

Lord Lester of Herne Hill: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	Why the Question for Written Answer tabled by the Lord Lester of Herne Hill on 23 February (HL1406) on whether they have intervened in proceedings pending before the Supreme Court of the United States has not been answered after 30 days.

Lord Goldsmith: The Question was answered on 5 April (Official Report, col. WA 187). The delay in reply arose because no single government department has overall responsibility for intervention in proceedings before the Supreme Court of the United States and because in order for an accurate reply to be given, all departments were asked to provide information on proceedings they were undertaking.

Parliament: Legislative Powers

Lord Lester of Herne Hill: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	Further to the Written Answer by the Lord Goldsmith on 31 March (WA 160), whether they consider that, as a matter of British constitutional law, the legislative powers of Parliament are unlimited in the sense that Parliament can change the structure or essential features of the constitution, such as the independent judiciary or the people's right to periodic, free and secret elections of the legislature.

Lord Goldsmith: As previously stated in the Written Answer I gave on 31 March, the Government consider that it is a fundamental principle of our constitution that the competence of Parliament to legislate on any matter is unlimited. It would not be helpful to speculate on wholly hypothetical instances of legislation.

Sudan: Darfur

Lord Hylton: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	Whether they have information that militias armed by the government of the Sudan have invaded parts of the Republic of Chad; and, if so, whether they will raise the matter at the United Nations Security Council; and
	Whether they will consider that acts of genocide have taken place in Darfur Province of the Sudan; and, if so, what action they will take.

Baroness Symons of Vernham Dean: We are seriously concerned about the situation in Sudan and the reported targeting of civilians, and are in close contact with the UN on this matter. We are urging the parties to the conflict to ensure the protection of civilians and to respect the principles set down in international humanitarian law.
	The UN Under-Secretary General for Humanitarian Affairs briefed the UN Security Council about the humanitarian situation in Darfur on 2 April. We and the UN agree that what is happening in Darfur cannot be described as genocide. But we are concerned at reports of systematic attacks on civilians, including rape, pillage and destruction of livelihoods.
	We are also concerned about regional implications of the situation in Darfur, and the risk of fighting spilling into Chad. We welcome the Government of Chad's role in the resumption of ceasefire talks, and hope that a ceasefire agreement will emerge soon.

Former Yugoslavia: Stability Force

Lord Astor of Hever: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	What specific tasks are to be undertaken by European Union defence forces in order to support the International Tribunal for the Former Yugoslavia, once the Stability Force (SFOR) withdraws.

Baroness Symons of Vernham Dean: Discussions are ongoing on the precise role of the proposed EU force, including in support of the International Tribunal for the Former Yugoslavia, and the division of responsibilities with the continuing but limited NATO presence.

Chechnya

Lord Avebury: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	Whether they will invite the Russian Government to agree to the re-establishment of the Organisation for Security and Co-operation in Europe's Assistance Group to Chechnya; and what other measures they consider should be taken by the OSCE to ensure that a full assessment of the human rights situation in Chechnya is made in advance of their human dimension implementation meeting in October 2004.

Baroness Symons of Vernham Dean: The EU and the Organisation for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE) chairmanship have made a number of appeals to the Russian Federation in the hope of persuading them to allow the OSCE to operate in Chechnya again. Most recently, in the OSCE permanent council on 25 March, the EU presidency stated that "the EU supports renewed engagement by the OSCE, including ODIHR, in Chechnya". So far, there has been no indication that Russia would countenance a re-establishment of the OSCE Assistance Group. It is difficult for the OSCE to assess the human rights situation in Chechnya without a presence in the region.

Krishna Maharaj

Lord Lester of Herne Hill: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	Further to the Written Answer by the Baroness Symons of Vernham Dean on 29 March (WA 127–8), whether the International Court of Justice has jurisdiction to determine claims of breach of United Kingdom-United States consular agreements; and, if so, whether they will (a) make a claim of breach by the United States before the International Court in the case of Krishna Maharaj; and (b) seek interim measures of protection on his behalf.

Baroness Symons of Vernham Dean: Consular relations between the UK and the US are governed by the bilateral consular convention between the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland and the United States of America, 1951. Unlike the Vienna Convention on Consular Relations, this bilateral treaty does not include a clause that gives compulsory jurisdiction to the International Court of Justice over disputes relating to its application.

Krishna Maharaj

Lord Dholakia: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	What response they received from Florida's State Attorney following their complaint about the breach of the United Kingdom-United States bilateral agreement relating to the arrest of Krishna Maharaj.

Baroness Symons of Vernham Dean: My noble friend Lady Scotland of Asthal wrote to the Florida State Attorney in early 2001 to ask that she not seek the death penalty in Mr Maharaj's case and to highlight again the breach of the UK/US bilateral consular convention of 1951. We did not receive a reply to this letter.
	In the event, at a hearing on 26 March 2002, the Dade County District Court decided to resentence Mr Maharaj to a term of imprisonment rather than reinstate the death penalty.

Krishna Maharaj

Lord Dholakia: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	What was the outcome of discussions between their Consul General in Atlanta and Governor Jeb Bush about the case of Krishna Maharaj.

Baroness Symons of Vernham Dean: Our Consul General in Atlanta discussed the case of Mr Maharaj with Governor Bush on 30 November 2001, including the clemency process in Florida. At that time, Mr Maharaj was on death row, and Her Majesty's Government's policy is to lobby in all cases where a British national faces the death penalty.
	In the event, at a hearing on 26 March 2002, the Dade County District Court decided to resentence Mr Maharaj to a term of imprisonment rather than reinstate the death penalty.

Iraq: Transfer of Sovereignty

Lord Lester of Herne Hill: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	Whether they expect that sovereignty will be transferred to Iraq on 30 June 2004.

Baroness Symons of Vernham Dean: The coalition is committed to the transfer of authority to an Iraqi interim government on 30 June. We remain confident that this target will be achieved.

Iraq: Transfer of Sovereignty

Lord Lester of Herne Hill: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	What conditions and restrictions will be imposed upon the powers that may be exercised by the Iraqi authorities after the transfer of sovereignty.

Baroness Symons of Vernham Dean: Discussion of the powers of the Iraqi interim government (the caretaker administration which will rule Iraq after 30 June until elections to a transitional national assembly by January 2005) continues between the Iraqi Governing Council, other Iraqis, the Coalition Provisional Authority and the UN. The aim is to forge an Iraqi consensus on this issue for inclusion in an annexe to the transitional administrative law (TAL), which was agreed by the Iraqi Governing Council on 8 March. A copy of the TAL has been placed in the Library of the House. The TAL already includes some important limits on the interim government, including a bill of rights and a precise timetable for elections. Article 3(A) of the TAL makes clear that the interim government will not have the authority to amend the TAL.

Criminal Offences

Lord Stoddart of Swindon: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	Further to the Written Answer by the Baroness Scotland of Asthal on 5 February (WA 114), what has been the effect on the prison population of the 355 new criminal offences within the remit of the Home Office which have been created since 1997.

Baroness Scotland of Asthal: The number of people sent to prison between 1998 and 2002 in connection with the offences referred to is 212 (9 in 1998, 30 in 1999, 41 in 2000, 43 in 2001, 89 in 2002).

Speed Cameras

Lord Dixon: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	How many fixed penalties and court fines have been ordered to be paid for the offence of speeding detected by camera since the inception of speed cameras in the Durham and Northumbria police areas.

Baroness Scotland of Asthal: Available information on the number of fixed penalties and court fines ordered to be paid for the offence of speeding detected by camera in the calendar years 1997 to 2001 is shown in the table for the Durham and Northumbria police force areas.
	Information for 2002 will be available in late spring.
	
		Table A: Fixed penalty and court proceedings data for speeding offences detected by cameras 1,2 in the Durham police force area 1997–2001 
		
			  Fixed Penalties Court proceedings(3) 
			 Offence and Year Number of tickets(4) Number of fines 
			 1997 – – 
			 1998 515 60 
			 1999 980 80 
			 2000 2,700 490 
			 2001 6,000 910 
		
	
	(1)Automatic cameras until 1998, all camera types from 1999.
	(2)Offences under the Road Traffic Regulations Act 1984 and the Motor Vehicles (Speed Limits on Motorways) Regulations 1973.
	(3)Includes cases where fixed penalty notices were issued but not paid and subsequently referred to court.
	(4)Paid, that is no further action.
	Note: Reliable data only available from 1997 onwards for speeding offences detected by camera.
	
		TableB: Fixed penalty and court proceedings data for speeding offences detected by cameras (1)(2) in the Northumbria police force area 1997–2001
		
			  Fixed Penalties Court proceedings(3) 
			 Offence and Year Number of tickets(4) Number of fines 
			 1997 14,500 710 
			 1998 23,400 870 
			 1999 25,600 840 
			 2000 16,000 1,800 
			 2001 21,200 700 
		
	
	(1) Automatic cameras until 1998, all camera types from 1999.
	(2) Offences under the Road Traffic Regulations Act 1984 and the Motor Vehicles (Speed Limits on Motorways) Regulations 1973.
	(3) Includes cases where fixed penalty notices were issued but not paid and subsequently referred to court.
	(4) Paid, that is no further action.
	Note: Reliable data only available from 1997 onwards for speeding offences detected by camera.

Ministry of Defence Police: Aggravated Trespass

Lord Avebury: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	Further to the Written Answer by the Lord Bach on 25 March (WA 111), why, if the Ministry of Defence Police officers understood the law in relation to aggravated trespass, they submitted a file to the Crown Prosecution Sevice which led to the case of Regina v Lindis Percy at Cirencester magistrates' court, on 4 March, knowing that the defendant had not committed the acts specified in Section 68(1)(a) to (c) of the Criminal Justice and Public Order Act 1994.

Lord Bach: The Ministry of Defence Police had reasonable grounds to suspect that Ms Percy committed offences against the Criminal Justice and Public Order Act 1994 when she trespassed at RAF Fairford on 3 March 2003. It is a matter for the court to determine if offences have been committed based on the evidence presented.

Military Bands: European Anthem

Lord Astor of Hever: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	Whether there is any guidance on playing the European anthem by British military bands.

Lord Bach: Guidance for the playing of all anthems is contained within Queen's regulations and relates to visits by foreign dignitaries such as a sovereign or other member of a royal family, or a head of state or government.

Armed Forces: Failed Drugs Tests

Lord Astor of Hever: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	How many commissioned officers failed drugs tests in 2002 and 2003, by service and drug type.

Lord Bach: One naval officer tested positive in 2002 for cannabis and another in 2003 for cocaine. One probationary Army officer on a gap year commission between sixth form and university tested positive for cannabis in 2002. A second probationary Army officer on a university cadetship tested positive for cocaine in 2003. No RAF officers have tested positive for illegal drugs over the same period.

North-East Regional Assembly

Lord Dixon: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	What is the breakdown of the estimated £30 million cost of setting up an elected north-east regional assembly; and, if the reorganisation of local government is not included in the £30 million estimate, what is the estimate of the cost of local government reorganisation prior to the setting up of a north-east regional assembly.

Lord Rooker: The main elements are the costs of the referendums and elections, the costs of preparation, including initial staff and accommodation costs, and the transfer of functions to the new assemblies. These costs will vary between regions, in proportion to the size of the regions' population and electorate, but are expected to average £30 million.
	The Office of the Deputy Prime Minister cannot estimate the costs of local government restructuring until the Boundary Committee makes its recommendations. It has been asked to make its final recommendations by 25 May 2004.

National Health Service Staff

Baroness Knight of Collingtree: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	Whether, as a consequence of the suspension of Mr Terence Hope, any operations have been cancelled at the Queen's Medical Centre, Nottingham; and
	Whether they have anything to add to the answer given by Lord Warner to the Baroness Knight of Collingtree on 22 March (HL deb, col. 558): "I am reliably informed that there will be no detriment to patients because the work that that doctor was due to perform will be covered by his colleagues".

Lord Warner: As indicated during the debate on 22 March, this is a matter for the Queen's Medical Centre, Nottingham University Hospital NHS Trust.
	I was however sorry to learn that contrary to the assurances given to me by the trust via the Trent Strategic Health Authority, a small number of operations were postponed as a result of Mr Hope's suspension. Those patients have since been contacted and have been offered rearranged dates. Mr Hope has since returned to work and the trust is due to review this issue to see what lessons can be learnt.

Adverse Drug Reactions: Yellow Card Scheme

Baroness Masham of Ilton: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	How the yellow card reporting system is submitted to the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency; and what communication patients or their carers have with the healthcare staff who fill in the cards; and
	How many yellow card reports are received each year by the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency; and how the information is used for research to benefit patients; and
	How long the yellow card reporting system for health care data has been in existence.

Lord Warner: The yellow card scheme is the United Kingdom system for collecting and monitoring information on suspected adverse drug reactions (ADRs). The scheme is run by the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) on behalf of the Committee on Safety of Medicines (CSM). The scheme relies upon voluntary reporting of suspected ADRs by health professionals.
	The yellow card was introduced in 1964 after the thalidomide tragedy highlighted the urgent need for routine post-marketing surveillance of medicines. Since then almost 500,000 reports of suspected ADRs have been submitted to the CSM/MHRA.
	The following table contains the total number of suspected ADR reports received via the yellow card scheme from 1997 to 2003 inclusive.
	
		
			 Year Total No. Reports 
			 1997 16,627 
			 1998 18,054 
			 1999 18,482 
			 2000 33,151 
			 2001 21,466 
			 2002 17,178 
			 2003 18,080 
		
	
	It is important to note that a report of a suspected adverse reaction does not necessarily mean that it was caused by the drug. Many factors have to be taken into account in assessing causal relationships including temporal association, the possible contribution of concomitant medication and the underlying disease.
	Levels of reporting are affected by media interest in a particular drug or reaction. Additionally, in situations where large numbers of people are exposed to a new drug, high levels of reporting for the drug in question may have a large impact on the overall numbers of yellow cards received.
	The yellow card scheme primarily acts as an early warning system for the identification of previously unrecognised adverse reactions and also provides valuable information on recognised ADRs, allowing the CSM and MHRA to identify and refine the understanding of risk factors that may affect the clinical management of patients. The value of the scheme has been demonstrated identification of numerous important safety issues.
	In evaluating a possible drug safety issue, yellow card data are considered in conjunction with relevant information from other sources such as clinical trial data, published studies and the medical literature. When necessary, the MHRA, on the advice of CSM, may take regulatory action to ensure that medicine is used in a way which minimises risk and maximises benefits to the patient.
	Reports are submitted by healthcare professionals and it is good practice, where possible, for the contents of the report to be discussed with the patient.
	A review of access to data generated by the scheme is due to report later this year. The report of the review will also consider how the scheme might be strengthened and will consider the reporting of suspected ADRs directly from patients.

Pregnancy: Alcohol Consumption

Lord Rea: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	Whether there is any evidence of the effects of maternal alcohol consumption in pregnancy on children not exhibiting the diagnostic features of foetal alcohol syndrome.

Lord Warner: Research indicates that excessive drinking during pregnancy may affect the brain of the developing foetus. The Government therefore recommend that women who are pregnant or who are trying to get pregnant should not drink more than one to two units of alcohol per week.
	However, any effect that excessive drinking in pregnancy may have on the later development of the child is less clear. It is difficult to assess the relative impact of excessive maternal drinking and other factors such as maternal socio-economic status, maternal age at the birth and maternal nutrition during pregnancy.

NHS: Foundation Trusts

Baroness Noakes: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	Whether the regulator of National Health Service foundation trusts has made a prudential borrowing code under Section 12 of the Health and Social Care (Community Health and Standards) Act 2003; and, if so, when that was laid before Parliament pursuant to Section 12(4) of that Act.

Lord Warner: We are informed by the chairman of the independent regulator that the draft prudential borrowing code has not yet been issued for consultation by the independent regulator. It is expected to be issued for consultation shortly and will be subject to a 12-week consultation period. Following the consultation, the regulator will consider the responses, amend the code as required, make the final code and lay a copy before Parliament.

NHS: Foundation Trusts

Baroness Noakes: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	On what basis National Health Service foundation trusts operating from 1 April 2004 may borrow money.

Lord Warner: The independent regulator of NHS Foundation Trusts has authorised 10 NHS foundation trusts from 1 April 2004. Pursuant to Section 17(1) of the Health and Social Care (Community Health and Standards) Act 2003 an NHS foundation trust may borrow money in connection with its functions. This is subject to the limit imposed by its terms of authorisation.
	These 10 trusts have been granted interim borrowing limits for 2004–05 determined by reference to the regulator's assessment of a prudential borrowing limit taking into account generally accepted principles used by financial institutions to determine the amounts of loans to non-profit making bodies. The figure reflects each NHS foundation trust's assessment of its likely borrowing requirements for the year 2004–05.
	The borrowing limits for the first trusts will be reviewed and, if necessary, revised once the prudential borrowing code has been made, and annually thereafter.

NHS: Foundation Trusts

Baroness Noakes: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	What is the authorised borrowing limit under Section 17(2) of the Health and Social Care (Community Health and Standards) Act 2003 for each of the National Health Service foundation trusts created from 1 April 2004.

Lord Warner: The independent regulator of NHS foundation trusts has set interim borrowing limits for new borrowing by the first 10 NHS foundation trusts as follows:
	
		
			 NHS Foundation Trust 2004–05 borrowing capacity (£million) 
			 Basildon and Thurrock 3.4 
			 Bradford 3.3 
			 Countess of Chester 5.8 
			 Doncaster and Bassetlaw 4.0 
			 Homerton 6.3 
			 Moorfields 5.6 
			 Peterborough and Stamford 3.5 
			 Royal Devon and Exeter 17.1 
			 Stockport 11.0 
			 The Royal Marsden 10.0 
		
	
	The figures above do not include existing borrowing (as at 1 April 2004), short-term working capital and potential increases in revaluation reserve.

NHS: Foundation Trusts

Baroness Noakes: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	Whether they will publish the authorisations issued by the foundation trusts regulator under Section 6 of the Health and Social Care (Community Health and Standards) Act 2003 in respect of those National Health Service foundation trusts operating from 1 April 2004.

Lord Warner: The terms of authorisation issued by the regulator to the first 10 NHS foundation trusts will be published on the regulator's website (www.nhsft-regulator.gov.uk) shortly and copies have been placed in the Library.

Commission for Patient and Public Involvement in Health

Earl Howe: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	What is the current annual budget of the Commission for Patient and Public Involvement in Health (CPPIH), inclusive of all funding for patient and public involvement forums; how much of this budget is allocated to the CPPIH itself; how much to the forum support organisations; and how much directly to the patient and public involvement forums.

Lord Warner: The commission's resource budget for 2003–04 was £34.9 million. Of this budget £8 million was used to support the extension of community health councils from 1 April to 1 December 2003, £5.2 million for the provision of the Independent Complaints Advocacy Service and £5.7 million for the cost of the commission's headquarters office. All other resources were either allocated or attributable to the start-up costs associated with the establishment of forums, the training of forum members, contractual payments to forum support organisations (FSOs), installing the forum and FSO information infrastructure and providing regional support to FSOs.

Commission for Patient and Public Involvement in Health

Earl Howe: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	How many people are employed full-time in the head office and regional offices of the Commission for Patient and Public Involvement in Health; and how many are employed on a part-time basis.

Lord Warner: As at 2 April 2004 the Commission for Patient and Public Involvement in Health employed a total of 138 permanent staff. Of this total, the head office employed 35 staff, none of whom are part time and nine regional centres employed 103 staff including 16 part-time staff.

Commission for Patient and Public Involvement in Health

Earl Howe: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	How many staff (measured on a full-time equivalent basis) are employed in forum support organisations to support patient and public involvement forums; and approximately how many hours of support per week they are contracted to provide to each patient and public involvement forum on average.

Lord Warner: The Commission for Patient and Public Involvement in Health awarded 140 contracts to cover the 572 patients' forums. At 1 April 2004 forum support organisations were employing 400 staff across the country. The contracts were awarded on the basis of organisations being able to deliver against the scope of work and not on hours worked.

Commission for Patient and Public Involvement in Health

Earl Howe: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	What operational arrangements have been established to enable members of patient and public involvement forums to reclaim expenses legitimately incurred in pursuit of forum business; and what types of expenditure are allowable in this context.

Lord Warner: An expenses guidance note has been issued to every forum member, setting out the commission's policy covering the eligibility for and payment of expenses incurred while carrying out their forum member activities. The types of expenses forum members can claim for include travel, both public transport and personal car usage, taxi fares, carer allowances and other incidental expenses such as car parking charges.
	The administration of forum member expenses is carried out through forum support organisations.

Iraq: Legal Advice

Lord Lester of Herne Hill: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	Further to the Written Answer by the Lord Filkin on 31 March (WA 166), whether they will retain the records of all legal advice given to the Government about the legality of the invasion of Iraq.

Lord Filkin: Further to the Answer I gave on 31 March 2004, all legal advice given to the Government is covered by the Public Records Acts.

Children: Deaths

Baroness Hayman: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	What proportion of those under the age of 18 who die each year are members of families dependent on income-related social security benefits.

Baroness Hollis of Heigham: This question cannot be answered directly. However, an approximate answer can be given using data on social fund funeral payments.
	In 2002–03, someone was entitled to a funeral payment if he or she had good reason for organising a funeral and was in receipt of income support, income-based jobseeker's allowance, housing benefit, council tax benefit, working families' tax credit or disabled person's tax credit.
	In 2002–03, in Great Britain, the number of funeral payment claims where the claimant was eligible and the deceased was aged under 16 was 1,642. Data where the deceased was aged under 18 are not available. Data are also not available on the split between qualifying benefits and tax credits.
	For a stillborn baby, any funeral is often free of charge. However, if charges are made or moneys have been spent on flowers, obituary notices, etc, then a funeral payment can be claimed and considered for payment.
	In calendar year 2002, in Great Britain, there were 5,064 deaths of children under the age of 16, excluding stillborn babies. Of those children who died under the age of 16, 67 per cent were aged under one.
	Of those under the age of 16 who die each year the proportion who are members of families where a funeral payment is claimed and the claimant is eligible is therefore approximately 32 per cent. Sources:
	Funeral payment data: DWP social fund policy, budget and management information system
	Deaths of children under the age of 16: Office for National Statistics

Northern Ireland: Sub-Post Office Closures

Lord Rogan: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	What assessment they have made of the implications on social care and health of closing sub-post offices in Northern Ireland.

Lord Sainsbury of Turville: The Government recognise the important role played by sub-post offices in local communities, particularly in rural areas and for the elderly and less mobile. Since November 2000 there has been a formal requirement on Post Office Ltd to maintain the rural network and prevent avoidable closures. This applies until 2006 in the first instance.
	In developing its urban reinvention programme post office closure proposals, Post Office Ltd undertakes a detailed assessment of the accessibility (including for the elderly and disabled) of alternative offices identified as the main receiving branches. This assessment includes the nature of the terrain between the branches, the distance of the journey on foot, including how busy the roads are and whether/where there are pedestrian crossings, traffic lights or underpasses where these need to be crossed. Access by public transport, predominately by bus, is checked giving route numbers and distance of stops from the closing and receiving branches. Availability of parking is also checked. At the end of this programme, at least 95 per cent of the urban population nationally will still live within one mile of a post office and the majority within half a mile.

Emissions Trading

Lord Jenkin of Roding: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	Why they have submitted a draft national allocation plan (under the European Union Emissions Trading Scheme) which will require reductions in emissions by United Kingdom firms greater than those required by plans submitted by other member states; and whether this will place British companies at a competitive disadvantage.

Lord Sainsbury of Turville: The Government published for consultation a draft UK National Allocation Plan (NAP) setting out proposals for allocating emission allowances to firms covered under the first phase of the EU Emissions Trading Scheme, which runs from 2005–07, and the way in which the international competitiveness of UK industry will be supported. While the Government will be submitting a NAP to the European Commission outlining key principles in April 2004, the final decision on the overall allocation of allowances will not be taken until 1 October 2004. It is therefore too soon to state whether UK firms will be required to make emissions reductions greater than those required in the plans submitted by other member states.

Miners: Vibration White Finger Scheme

Lord Lofthouse of Pontefract: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	How many miners or widows claiming under the British coal vibration white finger litigation died before receiving their compensation.

Lord Sainsbury of Turville: As at 15 March 2004 1,687 miners had died since they had submitted claims under the Vibration White Finger scheme. I am sorry that no similar figure is available for widows of former miners.

EU: Lisbon 2000 Agenda

Lord Harrison: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	What they are doing to promote the integration of the Lisbon 2000 agenda into other key European Union policy areas, including the growth and stability pact; the structural and cohesion funds; and European Union competition and industrial policies.

Lord McIntosh of Haringey: The Government believe that the Lisbon strategy needs to incorporate action across a wide range of European Union policy areas if it is to be effective. The Government set out their approach in the progress report Advancing long term prosperity: economic reform in an enlarged Europe (February 2004).
	The recent spring European Council reflected this, with conclusions including support for the four presidency initiative on regulatory reform, implementation of the findings of the Kok review of European labour markets, and action to improve the single market for services. The Government are pursuing:
	reform of the structural and cohesion funds so that member states can pursue effective policies for regional growth and developing human capital within a framework which has sufficient flexibility to meet their differing needs as set out in the Government's consultation document A modern regional policy for the United Kingdom (March 2003) and confirmed in the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry's Statement to the House on 17 September 2003; and
	an approach to competition and industrial policy founded on flexible, dynamic markets. This includes effective control of economically unjustified state aid, strong competition policy including proactive investigation of markets and sectors, and reforms to the EU regulatory framework to promote flexibility and growth.
	The Government published a discussion paper on the stability and growth pact (SGP) alongside the Budget. As the Chancellor said in his Budget Statement, the discussion paper compares the UK framework with the rules of the European Union's SGP and examines the principles, based on UK experience, which should guide the evolution of fiscal policy.

Alternative Investment Market: Inheritance Tax

Lord Donoughue: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	Whether, if one of the qualifying alternative investment market shares entitled to 100 per cent inheritance tax relief and held for two years, is taken over for cash and net proceeds are reinvested in a similarly qualifying company, the investor loses all of the time benefits from the original holding; and
	Whether an investor of shares traded on the alternative shares market can carry over time benefits from one holding to another new holding; and what is the time within which the proceeds must be reinvested to carry over the time benefits in order to maintain inheritance tax relief; and
	Whether, if an investor of shares traded on the alternative shares market sells shares for one of the companies qualifying for relief from inheritance tax and the proceeds are reinvested in a similar qualifying company, the investor loses all the time benefits from the original holding.

Lord McIntosh of Haringey: The rules for inheritance tax business property relief provide for property to be replaced while maintaining entitlement to relief. The same rules apply to shares on the alternative investment market as to other property eligible for relief: where otherwise qualifying property has replaced other such property, it is entitled to business property relief if it and the property it replaced was owned for a total of at least two years during the five years immediately before the taxable transfer.

Olympic Games 2012: London Bid

Lord Jopling: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	Further to the Written Answer by the Lord McIntosh of Haringey on 29 January (WA 56), whether a newly elected Mayor of London could under the Greater London Authority Act 1999, with or without the support of the Greater London Authority, decline to levy a council tax to raise London's contribution to staging the 2012 Olympic Games; and what would happen to the bid in those circumstances, or to the financing of the games following a successful bid.

Lord McIntosh of Haringey: In the memorandum of understanding between the Government and the Mayor of London, presented to Parliament in June 2003 as Command Paper Cm 5867, the Mayor has agreed that, subject to the Greater London Authority's decision-making processes, a council tax precept, beginning no earlier than 2006–07, would be made to support the cost of staging the games.
	As part of the bid, both the Mayor and the Government will be required to sign guarantees confirming the amounts to be funded by council tax and other funding sources, and pledging to take all necessary measures to ensure that London will fulfil its obligations under the host city contract, which will be signed with the International Olympic Committee if London's bid is successful. Under the GLA Act 1999, the Mayor and London Assembly have a duty to secure a financially balanced budget and the Mayor must levy the council tax precept that is necessary to fund that budget.

National Lottery

Lord Dixon: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	Since the commitment in the National Lottery funding decision document to increase the public's involvement in decisions on lottery spending, what consultations about particular local decisions and with whom the Community Fund and the New Opportunities Fund have carried out in:
	(a) South Tyneside Metropolitan Borough Council;
	(b) North Tyneside Metropolitan Borough Council;
	(c) Newcastle Metropolitan Borough Council;
	(d) Gateshead Metropolitan Borough Council; and
	(e) Sunderland Metropolitan Borough Council.

Lord McIntosh of Haringey: The Community Fund makes most of its grant decisions on a regional basis. Decisions on grants in the north-east are made by a committee drawn from the region and this committee includes members of the north-east public drawn by lot.
	The New Opportunities Fund regularly consults with local authority officials. In particular, the fund arranges meetings twice a year with representatives from each north-east local authority to discuss grant decisions in their area.
	The National Lottery funding decision document refers to the future of the National Lottery, in particular the approach that the recently announced Big Lottery Fund will take. The Big Lottery Fund will merge the work of the New Opportunities Fund and the Community Fund. Plans are being developed for consultation events on how the Big Lottery Fund will work and these will involve the public across the UK, including the north-east areas mentioned in my noble friend's question.

Constitution Hill: Cycle Path

Lord Berkeley: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	In respect of the six-week closure of the cycleway alongside Constitution Hill, what risk assessment was made of the danger to cyclists of having to use the main carriageway; why no alternative routes have been provided; what steps are being taken to restrict the speed of traffic during this period; and whether consideration was given to offering incentives to contractors in order to complete the resurfacing of this cycleway in fewer than six weeks.

Lord McIntosh of Haringey: Constitution Hill and the off-road cycle track that runs alongside it in Green Park are the responsibility of the Royal Parks.
	In the period during which the cycle track is being widened, cyclists will be expected to dismount or to cycle on the road. Many cyclists use the road even when the cycle track is available for use. The speed limit on the road is 30 mph. In the circumstances, it was not considered necessary to provide an alternative off-road cycle route for the period of the resurfacing works, nor to reduce the speed limit on the road any further.
	The work on the cycle track is being carried out by Westminster City Council and paid for by a grant from Transport for London. The Royal Parks has not considered offering incentives to contractors in order to complete the works in fewer than six weeks.

Molyneux Globes

Lord Harrison: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	How they are promoting public access to the Molyneux globes owned by the Middle Temple.

Lord McIntosh of Haringey: The Honourable Society of the Middle Temple has loaned two Molyneux globes to the National Maritime Museum, which is sponsored by the Department for Culture, Media and Sport, for its 2003 exhibition commemorating the life of Elizabeth I.

Ministers' Replies to Correspondence from Members of Parliament

Lord Marlesford: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	Whether it is accepted practice throughout government departments that letters to Ministers from Members of Parliament must be replied to by Ministers and not by civil servants.

Lord Bassam of Brighton: Paragraphs 14 and 15 of the Cabinet Office document, Handling Correspondence from Members of Parliament: Guidance for Departments, sets out procedures for signing off letters to Ministers from Members of Parliament. Copies are available in the Library of the House.

Ministers and Officials: Travel and Subsistence

Lord Pearson of Rannoch: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	What is the annual cost of travel and subsistence incurred by Ministers and civil servants attending meetings and events relating to European Union business.

Lord Bassam of Brighton: The Government publish on an annual basis details of the total cost of all Ministers' visits overseas together with a list of all overseas visits by Cabinet Ministers costing more than £500. These figures include travel on European Union business.
	Information for the period 2 May 1997 to 31 March 2003 has already been published and is available in the Library of the House. These costs include travel undertaken by private office and press office staff accompanying Ministers. Information for the period 1 April 2003 to 31 March 2004 is currently in the process of being collected and will be published as soon as it is ready. I will send the noble Lord a copy when it is published.